The current food and supply situation within Gaza as a result of Israel’s blockade is catastrophic.
The situation in Gaza regarding food and water is rapidly becoming untenable, with all 25 UN-run bakeries still closed. Supplies for food are dwindling, hence the increased prices of foodstuffs within Gaza. A 25-kilo sack of flour is 10 times more expensive than the standard price, with cooking oil up a similar amount. Ten loaves of bread should cost between two and five Shekels, approximately 40p to £1, they now sell for between 300-400 Shekels, approximately £70-£80 (US $100). Whilst this is unaffordable for most it also unavailable for many, with food production not able to meet the needs of Gazan civilians.
This situation comes after six weeks of Israel’s virtually complete blockade on Gaza, blocking the entry of all aid and resuming conflict with Hamas. Under international law, UN Secretary General Antonia Guterres states that Israel as the occupying power has the obligation to ensure food and medical supplies get to the people of Gaza. The current situation has resulted in Gazan civilians struggling to get basic supplies, with 90% of the Gazan population classified in IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) Phase 3, defined as having above-usual acute malnutrition. Furthermore, there are 41% in Phase 4, defined as “large consumption gaps which are reflected in very high acute malnutrition and excess mortality“, even more pressing is the approximately 19% of the population classified as phase 5, this meaning an extreme lack of food with starvation, critical malnutrition and death evident. The IPC predicts that without an immediate cessation of this blockade, the number of individuals within phase five could triple in the coming months, with over 50% of the population facing starvation.
Other countries have put some disappointingly modest pressure on Israel’s government to lift this blockade, with the foreign ministers of Britain, France and Germany issuing a joint statement calling for Israel to “abide by its international obligations to ensure full, rapid, safe and unhindered provision of humanitarian assistance to the population in Gaza”. Israel has rebuffed this effort, stating that IDF forces are acting to ensure aid does not transfer into the hands of Hamas, thus ignoring their humanitarian obligations.
With goods and services still not able to get in, the World Food Programme has stated that over two million individuals that were dependent on food assistance within the Gaza Strip will suffer severe malnutrition as the limited stocks of food, water and other essential supplies dwindle and eventually run out. Several aid agencies have now stated that they will stop meal services within days, the now severely limited stocks being diverted to keep hot meal distribution going for a few more days. It is now being widely reported that aid agencies are encountering children and pregnant women with cases of severe malnutrition, it is clear that this situation is only getting worse.
We at the Next Century Foundation pray that this blockade will now be lifted, and that food security will be returned to the Gaza strip and the Palestinian people.
Image by hosny salah from Pixabay
